Jail terms sought for UN gangsters arrested in Abbotsford

Jail time of 10 years and eight years each is being proposed for two members of the United Nations Gang who were arrested during a 2009 undercover sting in Abbotsford.

Doug Vanalstine of Vernon and Daryl Johnson of Abbotsford appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver for a sentencing hearing on Wednesday.

Crown and defence lawyers filed a joint submission, recommending the longer jail term for Vanalstine, whom police was the leader of the UN Gang at the time of his arrest.

Vanalstine, 52, and Johnson, 34, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Charges were stayed against their co-accused, Nicholas Wester of Abbotsford, as part of a plea agreement.

The three were among five arrested in Abbotsford in November 2009 following an undercover operation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.

Also arrested that day were Abbotsford's Jarrod Bacon and Wayne Scott, who both went to trial and were convicted earlier this year of conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Bacon and Scott were tied to the Red Scorpions gang, rivals of the UN Gang.

Bacon is currently serving a 12-year jail term, while Scott was sentenced to three and a half years.

Bacon now plans to appeal his sentence, saying it was too harsh, and the Crown is also appealing, seeking a longer term.

The undercover operation involved the use of a police agent who negotiated with the players for the movement of cocaine from Mexico in exchange for cash. Much of the discussions were recorded by wiretaps, forming the bulk of the Crown's evidence.

Vanalstine and Johnson are next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 11.

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